0% up to 48 Months on over 110 Brands!

New & Current Vintage King Card Holders

Shop Our Summer Sale

0% financing up to 48 Months on over 110 Brands!

When you shop now with your Vintage King Credit Card.

$ 849 .00
or $24/month for 36 months 0% interest for 36 months. 36 equal monthly payments required. Learn more
In Stock
Orders placed by 4:00pm ET Monday - Friday will ship the same day. To inquire if this item is available to ship sooner or is in one of our stores, please call 888.653.1184.

SKU

113431

Warm Audio WA-251 Tube Condenser Microphone

Recreation of the classic tube condenser microphone with external power supply, shock mount and wooden box
MFR# WA-251

Product Description

The Warm Audio WA-251 Tube Condenser Mic was created to offer a classic microphone design to a new generation of recording artists at an affordable price. Warm spent a great deal of time listening to different ‘251 microphones to determine what people liked about them and why, how various styles of components impact the tone, and how to give the WA-251 microphone a signature that pays homage to the vintage classic, but also stands out on its own.

The WA-251 is an all vacuum tube, large diaphragm, transformer balanced, multi-pattern, large condenser microphone, based on the classic ‘251 that has been used on countless hit records for the last 50+ years. The WA-251 is designed for pro studio, home studio, live, and broadcast applications and sounds great on vocals, acoustic/electric guitars, acoustic/electric bass, drums, piano, strings, brass/woodwind instruments, and an array of other sources.

Design

The classic ‘251 became extremely popular as a vocal microphone in the 1960’s and is now considered to be one of the greatest condenser microphones ever created. The classic ‘251 is still widely used today in professional recording studios but has become extremely rare and cost prohibitive to acquire.

Designing the WA-251 to sound like the classic ‘251 was no easy task, especially since some of the vintage components are no longer manufactured or available. Warm are pleased to release such a gorgeous sounding classic to the market at a price that’s reachable to more people than ever before.

All Brass Capsule

The WA-12-B-60V is an all-brass, edge-terminated capsule that captures all the smoothness, rich top end, and warm vintage sonics of the original CK12 capsule. The WA-12-B-60V uses a variant CEK-12 back plate as a basis, which overcomes manufacturing limitations of the original CK12 capsule. The o-ring and housing of the WA-12-B-60V are all made from brass (no teflon parts), and the diaphragm is 24k gold sputtered 6 micron, NOS PET film (mylar). The end result is a very consistent, reliable capsule which matches the frequency response and tonality of the classic 1970's classic capsule.

The Tube

A Slovak Republic JJ 12AY7 vacuum tube is used in the WA-251. Warm auditioned 3 tube brands and fell in love with the JJ 12AY7. The frequency response of the JJ tube, and the way it contributes to the circuit is tonally smooth and vintage in nature.

The Transformer

The WA-251 utilizes an American made CineMag USA transformer. This transformer helps provide the present top end and the LARGE bottom end one would hope to get from a 251-style condenser microphone.

The Capacitors

The WA-251 proudly uses polystyrene coupling capacitors, wima film capacitors throughout, and an imported Solen French capacitor on its output.

The Cable

One component of a tube microphone that is often overlooked is the 7 pin cable that connects the microphone to its power supply. When auditioning the WA-251 and other tube microphones Warm learned quite a bit about 7 pin cables and how the shielding and wire gauge size can drastically change the sonics of a tube microphone. Warm have partnered with Gotham Audio in Switzerland to use their very carefully built high-end 7 pin “GAC-7 cable”. Using this cable increases top end presence and the overall size of the recorded image in the stereo field by reducing phase shift and the parasitic effect often experienced in poorly built cables. Gotham Cabling is very expensive and boutique in nature and shouldn’t be considered a small addition to the WA-251 package.

Features:

  • Custom WA-12-B-60V edge terminated, dual-backplate, all-brass vintage CK12-style capsule
  • Cinemag USA output transformer
  • JJ Slovak 12AY7 vacuum tube
  • Gotham 5 meter GAC-7, 7-pin tube microphone cable
  • WIMA, solen French, and polystyrene capacitors
  • Polar patterns: cardioid, omni, figure-of-eight

Product Specifications

Condition New
Package Contents WA-251, wood box, PSU, shock mount, and cable
Length 9.7 in
Diameter 1.8 in
Tube or Solid State Tube
Transducer Type Condenser
Polar Pattern Bi-Directional / Figure-Eight, Cardioid, Omni-Directional
Number of Microphones Single Microphone
Impedance 200 Ohms
Frequency Range 20 Hz - 20 kHz
Max. SPL 132 dB
Analog or Digital Analog

Product Reviews

5 out of 5 stars.
Review Count (1)

write a review

Killer microphone for a great price! I love it!

By Michael G on February 25, 2022

* Required Fields

Share Your Opinion

The best gear advice always comes from those who use it the most. That's where you come in! Let the pro audio world hear your voice with a review of the Warm Audio WA-251 Tube Condenser Microphone . Once you submit your review, please check your email and verify your address to have it posted.

How do you rate this product?
I would like to thank VK for the wonderful sales assistance, service and prices. This was my first purchase with you and it won't be my last. I only wish I'd discovered you years ago!
Matthew R.
I had two Grammy wins this year - Ray LaMontagne & Carolina Chocolate Drops. Both made with help from Vintage King!
Ryan F.
In almost 20 years in Pro audio buying, never did I receive a unit so well packed and exactly as described. Works flawlessly. The whole process has been so smooth. I will never hesitate to do business with you guys in the future and will recommend you to everyone I know.
Martin C.
This was my first experience buying something from Vintage King (although I surf the "used" categories on the website frequently!), and, despite being on the other side of the world, I had absolutely no trouble and everything went very smoothly.
Phil T.
The speed of delivery exceeded my expectations! I was VERY pleased that my shipment arrived in time for a scheduled vocal tracking session. The packing insured that my order arrived safely. And the sales staff responded quickly to questions regarding the product.
James P.
Thank you so much! Vintage King has been so fair and easy to work with. I can't thank you enough. It feels good to trust such a hefty purchase to folks who are so helpful and knowledgeable. Vintage King is a sound designers dream store.
Noa L.
You guys have excellent customer service and I am excited about the next upgrade I complete on my fifth recording facility. I've been in the studio business for forty plus years. The salesman I worked with at Vintage King was the best of the best. You all rock!
Robby T.
I would recommend Vintage King to any one looking for top-class gear, unbeatable customer service and the best prices on the map!
Jake D.
My experience with Vintage King was excellent. The order was here fast considering it was out of stock. The sales person had SKB send it to me directly and I couldn't have been more pleased.
Michael D.
From the minute I placed my order I was kept well-informed through each step in your process. Even though I was buying a comparatively modest piece of gear, your attention to detail made me feel like I was purchasing a six-figure mixing desk.
Thomas W.
I am a new customer of yours. You guys provided me the absolute best deals in ordering all the equipment to power my brand new recording studio. Your customer service is amazing and i will always deal with you from here on out.
Rob M.
Thanks for your great service and getting this out today. You guys really are the Kings!
Alan B.
Better than expected! Truly impeccable service. Your team was professional, knowledgeable, provided speedy delivery above and beyond standard. Vintage King Audio is definitely my go to for all of my audio and information needs.
James O.